The focus of this article is to sort through the myriad of options on larger slates and find not only some solid foundational plays but also some spots that could go overlooked. We focus on stacks that are solid for small-field and SE as well as overlooked spots for large-field GPPs, and we discuss players that have good past history vs. the pitchers they’re facing. Our Discord strategy rooms are incredibly active. Hop in and join the discussion!
FIVE DFS MLB Stacks
Houston Astros
This is one of my favorite spots on the slate. Slade Cecconi has shown flashes, but the overall profile still leans toward inconsistency and contact risk when he’s not locating well. Houston’s offense has been a bit streaky this season, but the upside is always there with the veteran core and ability to punish mistakes in the zone. If Cecconi gets into trouble early, this is the type of lineup that can stack runs quickly. Strong tournament play.
Jun 16, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich (22) breaks his bat during the fourth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Brewers
I like this spot quite a bit. Bryce Elder has had stretches of competence, but he’s still been prone to allowing traffic and running into trouble when hitters are able to extend at-bats. Milwaukee isn’t always the most predictable offense, but they’ve got enough pop and depth to take advantage when pitchers are working from behind. This feels like a solid secondary stack with legitimate upside if Elder’s command isn’t sharp.
Pittsburgh Pirates
This is one of my favorite tournament spots of the slate. Michael Lorenzen has been one of the more attackable pitchers in baseball this season, carrying a 7.13 ERA and 1.85 WHIP, and that’s exactly the type of profile I’m looking to target. The Pirates can be frustrating offensively at times, but they’ve shown plenty of upside when the matchup is right, and this certainly qualifies. Lorenzen has had trouble keeping runners off base all season, and if Pittsburgh can get traffic early, there’s a very real path to a big offensive performance.
Jun 20, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana (37) celebrates a two-run home run by first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) against the Houston Astros in the second inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Cleveland Guardians
This is a pretty interesting tournament spot for Cleveland. Kai-Wei Teng is still trying to settle in at the major league level, and that usually comes with some command volatility and innings where traffic starts to stack up quickly. The Guardians aren’t the most explosive offense in baseball (even though we’ve seen flashes like last night, that’s for sure), but they’re disciplined enough to force mistakes and extend innings when pitchers aren’t sharp. Not a priority stack, but I like them as a lower-owned GPP option with some sneaky upside if Teng struggles early.
Texas Rangers
This is more of a leverage spot and a deep shot, but I don’t necessarily mind some exposure here in tournaments. Lucas Giolito has had a mixed season — capable of strong outings when everything is working, but still vulnerable when command drifts and he starts falling behind hitters. The Rangers aren’t the most consistent offense at all, but they do have some power that can make teams pay when pitchers miss spots. I wouldn’t necessarily go too heavy here, but it’s a viable secondary stack in larger fields given the matchup and the fact that Sundays are always weird.
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Jun 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (5) circles the bases on a solo home run against the Miami Marlins during the eighth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
FOUR MLB BvP Matchups
Kerry Carpenter vs. Davis Martin: 3-10 with a 2B, HR, and two RBI
Brandon Lowe vs. Michael Lorenzen: 3-10 with a 2B, HR, two RBI, and two BB
Joc Pederson vs. Lucas Giolito: 5-8 with two 2B and three RBI
Brice Turang vs. Bryce Elder: 4-10 with a HR and two RBI
THREE MLB Value Plays
Ty France ($2800 DK / $2400 FD): 7-14 with three 2B, a HR, and two RBI against Nathan Eovaldi
Ryan Kreidler ($2500 FD): 1.486 OPS in his last seven games
Nasim Numez ($3400 DK / $2700 FD): 1.274 OPS in his last seven games; second base is always lower in viable options